About us.

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Some people have been trying to make me feel bad, by telling me off for training Dave over jumps at 4 months old.

Just for the record. this was a one off bit of fun to see what he did, and I am not training a 4 month old pup full on agility just yet. I always admit to being able to learn more, but I have owned dogs for 25 years and am not stupid.

Incidently, earlier the same morning whilst we were out for our walk, Dave was running around like a nutter, having fun with Lily and jumped over a branch across the path, a ditch and at one point jumped over Lily as she moved across his line. It is natural for dogs to jump, and he isn't going to do any more damage jumping a small cross pole, 3 times than he is jumping any other obstacle he comes across.

Perhaps I shouldn't take him for walks off the lead until he is a year old? FFS!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, 18 February 2009

Midweek and not much going on at work. Loads to do for our agility equipment though so will be busy painting soon. More orders come in which is really exciting.Lily did some good grid work last night but she is overweight slightly and it shows in her fitness. Have decided to take them off CSJ food as the last batch was totally different, and its definitely put weight on them all and made them poo loads!! Am now feeding half raw diet to see how we get on.

Dave was getting very excited watching Lily & Olli training in the garden so we put the jumps really low and thought we'd try him out. What a natural;!!! He is just 4 months old but so keen and so easy to train. I think we have a star in the making. There is a lot to be said for bold, excitable dogs. They may need a lot of time put in but they make amazing workers if you channel it right. Dave is proving to be very clever, and loves pleasing us with his work.

Off to look at a caravan on Friday as we have so many weekend shows coming up. How exciting!!

Sunday, 15 February 2009

Well its been a fairly ordinary week, just working hard and trying to keep everyone fed, watered and happy. Saturday we went to Hampshire & Berkshire delivering equipment that we had made. Met 2 really different couples. The 1st couple had 2 Westies & a golden retriever, and lived in a beautiful thatched cottage in a Hampshire village, where they really did agility for fun and they loved there seesaw and long jump, in pink & purple! The second couple were a lot more serious agility addicts, with Collies & Manchester Terriers and they compete all over the country. They were also pleased with their seesaw, and its so nice to meet so many different people with such different outlooks, and so many lovely dogs!

Today, Sunday, we met my great friend Jo at a limit show near us. Had enough sandwiches between us to feed an army!! Chocolate, sweets, crisps, and 3 dogs eager to compete. Lily was hyper, missed 1 contact, took a wrong jump and herded another in our 3 1st classes, so no clears for me. Olli was hilarious, deciding it was easier to go under a few jumps, sniff the floor, play to the crowd, and finally demolished the wall in his jumping round. He has never seen a wall so put his front feet against it and pushed it over! Clown! He did however get his contacts brilliantly so that was a bonus.

As Fern has been coming training with me for 18months, and never run a dog round a course, I decided to let her run Lily in the Helter Skelter. Not too tricky, but gave her a chance to try out the real thing. Blow me if she didn't get a clear round, and not only clear but 2nd place and a trophy to boot!!! I was so thrilled! We all were, and its so nice that after all the nights watching & coaching in all weathers, Fern got to put her experience to practice, Well done mate!

Friday, 6 February 2009

Blimey, didn't the heavens open last night! We have had about a foot of snow up here, and it was still snowing at lunchtime today. We cant get anywhere, half the roads are in passable so what to do but play with the dogs. Even Becki the 11 yr old spaniel, suddenly became puppy like again. What a fun time we had, and the video is on youtube to prove it.

Tuesday, 3 February 2009

Just a lovely morning and so pleased Olli enjoyed his walk, although he still isn't himself. Still early days yet and I'm sure after a few more days he will be back to normal. The sun was so pretty this morning too.

UKA Cornwall on Sunday and it was freezing! Lily went in the agility, and 1st time ever she broke her wait. I was gobsmacked but she carried on to get 10 faults, and she got her contacts, so not too bad. Realised my mistake afterwards. I set her up right against the wire and the collie behind was manic, noisy and she just couldn't cope. Oh well its all experience.

We decided as we had about 3 hrs to wait for the next class and it was so cold, we would leave and take the dogs for a good run on the moors. Had a blast, then went for a pub lunch. Meanwhile Olli suddenly had a violent vomiting session, flooding the back of our car. Didn't worry too much, but by the time we were home, he had thrown up loads more and was looking really poorly. I didn't feed him, and he slept in our bedroom Sunday night. Monday morning he was really flat so off to the vets for examination. 3 jabs and a course of antibiotics later he was curled up on the sofa, diagnosed with poisoning. So worried for my poor boy. We decided he picked up something in the muck and water from the pig farm we were shooting on Saturday afternoon. 2 other spaniels have the same problem. Thankfully today, although on a very small amount of chicken & rice, he has not vomited and is definitely brighter in himself. He lost 1 & half kilos in 24 hrs!

This morning I took him for a run in the snow and he enjoyed himself, but I am still spoiling him, with him indoors in the warm, not in his kennel.

Dave & Lily had a laugh too! It may disrupt the country but its such god fun with the dogs in this snow. We are making the most of it.